The Renegade Sport S was launched side by side with Renegade Commando in 2014. From then, these two models were said to be the perfect replacement for Royal Enfield and Bajaj Avenger models. These Miami based motorcycle makers have been associating with the Lohia Group for the Indian operations. The UM Renegade range of motorcycles simply a bunch of cruiser motorcycles with an aesthetic feels to drive the attention. However, Renegade Sport S remains to be the only model in this clan with a different attitude that combines cruiser motorcycling experience in a sportier way. Unfortunately, we had an opportunity to drive this machine last week, even though it has been launched in 2014.

The Way It Looks

Visually, the bike looks great. The stance of the bike is crowd pulling and attractive. Unlike Renegade Commando or Mojave or Classic, Sport S gets a different headlight unit and bar-handle. The headlight is being decorated with a body-colored fairing which slopes backward with black patches on the sides. The single pod speedo is placed over the fuel tank which consists of gear position, fuel gauge and various basic information. It gets a USB port on the sides of the console for charging your smartphone on the go. However, the design of instrument console is a bit boring with old-fashioned styling and writing.

The fuel tank of Sport S is massive with a capacity of 18-litres. There is a plastic extension under the fuel tank which is decorated with LED strips on either side. This LED set up has been placed as a cosmetic part and it has nothing to do with the illumination or the safety. On moving to the tail section, everything is same as the rest of Renegade bikes. It is wide and features a large LED tail light.

The Engine and Performance

The Renegade Sport S uses the same 279.5cc, single cylinder engine found in the entire Renegade clan. This liquid-cooled engine gets the 6-speed gearbox to transmit the power to rear wheels using a chain drive. It delivers a maximum power of 24.8 bhp @ 8500 rpm and peak torque of 23 Nm @ 7000 rpm. The power and torque figures are substantial and way better than the competitors. However, there is Thunderbird 500 delivering more power and torque, but it cannot be called as a cruiser bike as it is a combination of a cruiser and modern classic.

Unlike the Enfields or Avengers, this one has a splendid throttle response. One can go up to 75kmph or even more in the second gear itself. The bike is comfortable in and around 80 to 95 kmph without any notable vibes and buzzes. The initial pick-up and grunt of the engine will surely put a smile on the rider's face. Addition of the sixth gear enables the rider to set past 125 kmph effortlessly. Interestingly, Sport S features carburettor system, which was expected to be a fuel injection system.

For those who are fed up with the power delivery of Enfield will definitely anchor to this bike. However, the reliability of this machine remains to be a big question. It has to be tried and tested in the following years.

Ride Quality

Chassis and suspension of this motorcycle are outstanding. Like every other Renegade bike, the ride quality is good. Whether it is a good or bad road, it takes you with much comfort and easiness. Front and rear suspension do a good job by preventing the road shocks reaching the handle and seats. The suspension system consists of 41 mm telescopic fork at the front and twin hydraulic shock with spring at the rear. The UM engineers deserve all the appreciation for developing the bone type chassis that is used in all the Renegade bikes. Moreover, the tubeless tyres enhance road grip and help in seamless maneuvering courtesy of TVS. Meanwhile, braking of the bike is exceptionally good. I felt very impressed with the brakes of Sport S, just like the Commando Classic and Commando that I had test driven earlier.

Build quality of the entire Renegade motorcycles cannot be called as supreme. In order to meet the pricing figures, the makers have adjusted the build quality of the motorcycle. The rider and pillion seats are comfy and wide enough to suit your long distance rides. Sport S features the same split seats that come in black rexine.

The Verdict

As I mentioned before, UM has to improve a lot of areas in order to survive in this busy market. The Indian two-wheeler market is one of the largest and trickiest of the world. Therefore, the manufacturers have to be very conscious of what they are selling to the consumers. The point is, the Indian cruiser market has been already dominated by Bajaj Avenger series. A part of which is also taken by the Royal Enfield Thunderbird. Therefore, UM has to prove themselves. According to me, UM has to refine the build quality of their models. In fact, it is considered as a perfect replacement for thumping Enfields and much cheaper Bajaj Avenger. I would definitely recommend this model to a person who is looking for a cruiser motorcycle which demands road presence and unique character.